The Duckworth Lewis Method bowl a storming maiden at the Oran Mor

David Hepburn

The Duckworth Lewis Method are a band every bit as ridiculous as their name - taken from a complex mathematic equation used in cricket to adjust the winning target when bad weather limits one team’s overs.

Even the way they were formed is slightly ludicrous - Neil ‘Divine Comedy’ Hannon and Thomas ‘Pugwash’ Walsh bonding over a love of leather-on-willow and 70s rockers Electric Light Orchestra at ‘Father Ted’ creator Graham Linehan’s wedding.

It’s these twin obsessions which have informed the duo’s output to date - two dazzlingly accomplished concept albums about that most English of sports...written by a pair of Irishmen.

In fairness it’s perhaps a subject that has a limited demographic in notoriously cricket-averse Scotland, which might explain why Glasgow’s Oran Mor venue was less than crammed for their first ever live outing north of the border.

But what the crowd lacked in numbers, it more than made up for in enthusiasm - with a smattering of brave souls even donning full whites for the occasion.

The two all-rounders louchely ambled on to launch into raunchy sophomore album title track ‘Sticky Wickets’, their voices combining like they’ve been batting together for decades.

What follows is 90 minutes of perfect pop - marrying stomping glam-rock with a number of more reflective tracks more reminiscent of Hannon’s previous output.

It’s amazing that what could have been a flimsy novelty act has evolved into something far more substantial.

Yes, they do spin umbrellas at the half way point during instrumental ‘Rain Stops Play’ and, yes, the slightly under-the-weather Neil Hannon does sport a Panama hat, cravat and comedy facial hair. But make no mistake, the music is anything but a joke - with songs such us ‘The Umpire’ and ‘Gentlemen and Players’ dripping with both melody and pathos.

‘Jiggery Pokery’ is the sole out-and-out comedy song, though still an expertly crafted one.

The only disappointment comes when the band slightly run out of time. Those in the front row are left with a tantalising glance of what looks very much like a puppet of Stephen Fry (who provides guest vocals to the unplayed ‘Judd’s Paradox’) languishing unused against the drumkit.